The information and communications technology (ICT) sector feels let down by the Federal Budget, and the Minister for IT should have better represented the industry in Cabinet, the Shadow Minister for IT, Senator Kate Lundy said today.
“One week after the Federal Budget was announced, the Information and Communications Technology sector’s evaluation of the Coalition’s commitment to ICT has been a negative one,” Senator Lundy said.
“The IT training commitment is seen as next to worthless, there is a great deal of anger over the decision to freeze the R&D Start program, and the protection afforded to the National Information Infrastructure is almost non-existent. Overall, it is a budget with no vision.
“I think it is fair to say that the sector is disappointed by the Federal Budget,” Senator Lundy said. “Quite clearly, ICT is not seen by the Coalition as the way forward for Australian industry.
“This is a shame, because the information and communications technology sector represents the high road to Australian prosperity. The Labor Party has consistently emphasised the importance of a smart, value-adding, industry, driven by Australian entrepreneurs. We want to ensure high paying, skilled employment for Australians into the future, and the ICT sector is a crucial part of this.
“Ultimately this is an issue for all Australians, because, if this industry falls by the wayside, our ability to provide ourselves a fair and prosperous society will fall with it. I think that it’s time Senator Alston took an interest in his portfolio, and started defending it in the Cabinet.” Senator Lundy concluded
For industry comments, please refer to the attached “Report Card”
Media contact: Simon Tatz on 02 6277 3334 or 0418 488 295
Coalition Budget Report Card: what the ICT Industry said
Overall: 1/10
“Overall this year’s budget provides the industry with a few opportunities, however, what it gives with one hand it more than takes back with the other – cuts to funding for ICT policy and R&D investment signal a lack of regard for an industry that is a proven driver of economic growth.”
- Rob Durie, Executive Director, Australian Information Industry Association
“Information Technology took a back seat in 2002-2003 Federal Budget”
- Computerworld
“The Information Technology sector has been left scrambling for crumbs in the Federal Budget for 2002-2003.”
- Sydney Morning Herald
“The tight spending constraints mean that we are not going to see a kick-start to the tech sector from any Government pump priming.”
- Peter Coroneos, President, Internet Industry Association
“I don’t think this budget has anything in it that addresses the current industry situation.”
- Iain Birks, CEO, Ideas International
IT Skills Training: 1/10
“A major IT educator [Dimension Data Learning Services] has slammed the Federal Government’s $23.2 million age computer training initiative as ‘a joke’ and claimed the money could have been better spent elsewhere.”
- The Australian
“The allocation of funding for IT skills training … is not sufficient in terms of targeting or funding to have any real impact in rectifying the industry’s concerns regarding ICT skills.”
- Rob Durie, AIIA
“The Australian Computer Society was unimpressed with the mature-age IT skills scheme, noting that $500 would not go a long way in computer education.”
- The Australian
R&D Start Freeze: 0/10
“Perhaps the ugliest of this year’s budget is the impact of the Government’s freeze on the R&D Start Program … It will limit the ability of innovative Australian companies to develop new technologies and compete in the global market.”
- Rob Durie, AIIA
National Information Infrastructure Security: 2/10
“The Federal budget has failed to deliver adequate protection for the National Information Infrastructure [NII] … it will only spend a paltry 32 cents per head of population on protecting the NII (which comprises information systems that control critical sectors such as telecommunications, transport and distribution, energy and utilities, and banking and finance) over the next 4 years”
- Leif Gamertsfelder, Head, E-security group, Deacons law firm
“Evidently the prospect of terrorist initiated cyber-attack remains too theoretical a possibility in the mind of Treasury to warrant much of a commitment.”
- Peter Coroneos, IIA
